Connecting whieeletbees with cauhxagkes



J. BARNES.

W'hifi'atree.

Patented June 11, 1850.

N4 PETERS, PHOTOLITHDGRAPHEH, WASHINGLON, n. C.

UNITED srarns rarnn'r orricn JAMES BARNES, OF FRANKLIN, NEW YORK.

CONNECTING WHIFFLETREES WITH CARRIAG-ES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,422, dated June 11, 1850.

To all whom it may concern:

"Be it known that I, JAMES BARNES, of Franklin, in the county ofDelaware and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in theCoupling of lVhiifie-Trees to Carriages; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification.

The nature of my invention consists in so connecting the Whittle treesto a carriage that, although I allow the required freedom of motion I amenabled to guard against the danger which usually results from a tracebreaking or "becoming unhitched, viz., the end of the Whittle tree towhich a trace remains attached is drawn forward so far as to permit thehorse to draw out of the shafts; and the contact with his legs alsocauses fright. By my improvement the whiffie tree retains itsappropriate position when only one trace remains attached to it.

I am aware that this result has been attained by several means, but theyhave all lacked those essentials which would secure their introductioninto general use, and which mine possesses in an eminent degree,neatness, compactness, and strength.

I construct of iron or other suitable metal, a circular box of about thesize shown at (/1) having projections (b) by means of which it may bebolted firmly to the whithetree (C). In the center of this box thererises from the bottom, to one half the height of the box, a smallcircular plate (cl), within the box and opposite to each other, areblocks of metal of the form shown at (E) the sides of which, (E), areradii, while the arc (E) is somewhat less than one fourth of a circle.The blocks rise to the top of the inside of the box, but do not extendquite to its'outer edge, as shown. Through the center of the box a holeis made through which a bolt (f) may be put. The box thus constructed isfirmly secured to the under side of the whifiie-tree by suitable boltsor screws as at (c, c, c, 0,). I make also of like material with the box(a), a follower (h), having projections by means of which itmay besecured by screws or bolts (0, 0, 0, 0,) firmly to the cross-bar (K) ofthe shafts of a carriage. In the center of this is a circular plate (Z),of the same form and size as that shown at (cl), and having a hole (7)through which the bolt may be passed. On (71,) is a flange (m) near theedge, rising to a height corresponding with the interior of the box (a).There are also blocks of metal (a) of the same size and form as thoseshown at but these are so placed as to play into the spaces betweenthose on the box (a) as clearly shown. It will thus be seen that thefollower (it) will fit into the box (a) with only this exception, thatas the are (E) of the blocks is clescribed as being somewhat less. thanone fourth of a circle the play of the follower within the box will bedouble the amount that the arc (E) is less than one fourth of thecircle-*and the operation of my invention will then be as follows:

The box and follower, bolted as described (the one to the Whittle-treeand the other to the cross-bar) being put together, the bolt (f) ispassed through from the top of the Whittle-tree to the under side of thebar where it is secured by the usual nut. If now a trace be attached tobut one end of the whiiiie-tree, that end can be drawn forward only sofar as will bring sides of the blocks in the box into contact with sidesof those on the follower. This is arranged to be of any desired distancewhich will permit sufficient motion for ease to the horse and yet beperfectly consistent with safety. The flange (m) protects the interiorfrom the admission of dirt, and retains the oil.

hat I claim as of my own invention and which I desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is The stops or blocks (E, E,) castupon or otherwise afiixed to the box (a and the stops or blocks (a, 92,)cast upon or aflixed to the follower (h) in such manner that when thetwo are joined by a central bolt passing through they will interlock andform a stop coupling, secure from disarrangement from external causes,the whole being constructed substantially in the manner hereindescribed.

JAMES BARNES.

Witnesses:

ROBERT S. HUGHSTON, SAMUEL NORTH.

